I just recevied a brief overviewof the photographic literature that will be available at the Swann Auction Galleries December 8th, 2009 in NYC, which is in conjunction with their auction of photographic prints. Some of the photobook hightlights include:
Among the earliest examples of photographic literature in the sale are Francis Frith’s Egypt Nubia and Ethiopia, with 100 albumen stereo views, London, 1862 ($7,000 to $10,000); and Camera Work #20, with 10 photogravures, three by Alfred Stieglitz, New York, 1907 ($5,000 to $6,000).
From the 1920s and ’30s are August Sander’s Antlitz der Zeit, Munich, 1929 ($2,000 to $3,000); Roger Parry and Fabian Loris’s Banalité, signed by both, with 16 photogravures, Paris, 1930 ($3,000 to $4,500); Italia Imperiale, edited by Manilo Morgagni, Milan 1937 ($4,000 to $6,000); Brassaï’s Paris de Nuit, Paris, 1933 ($2,500 to $3,500); and Walker Evans’s American Photographs, signed and with an original photograph, New York, 1938 ($4,000 to $6,000).
Later works of note are a signed copy of David Heath’s A Dialogue with Solitude, New York, 1965 ($3,000 to $4,500); Robert Frank’s The Lines of My Hand, Tokyo, 1972, and Flower Is . . . , Tokyo, 1987 ($3,500 to $4,500 and $4,000 to $6,000 respectively); Edward Ruscha’s Thirtyfour Parking Lots in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 1967 ($2,200 to $2,800); Lewis Baltz’s The Tract Houses, The Prototype Works, The New Industrial Parks near Irvine, California, issued with a print, each volume signed by Baltz, New York and Germany, 2005 ($2,500 to $3,500); Todd Hido’s One Picture Book #06: Taft Street, four volumes, Tucson, 2001 ($2,000 to $3,000); and Visionaire issue number 18, the Fashion Special, in a leather Louis Vuitton portfolio case, New York, 1996 ($1,400 to $1,800).
Japanese highlights include Yoshikazu Suzuki’s Ginza Kaiwai, Ginza Haccho, two volumes, Tokyo, 1954 ($4,000 to $6,000); Shomei Tomatsu’s Nagasaki 11:02, Tokyo, 1966 ($3,000 to $4,500); Yutaka Takanashi’s Toshi-e [Towards the City], two volumes, Tokyo, 1974 ($3,000 to $4,000); and Hirsoshi Sugimoto’s Theaters, with a signed photogravure, New York, 2000 ($1,500 to $2,500).
The auction will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 8 with Photographic Literature, and will continue at 2:30 p.m. with Fine Photographs.
The photographs and books will be on public exhibition at Swann Galleries Thursday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Monday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
An illustrated catalogue with information on bidding by mail or fax, is available for $35 from Swann Galleries, Inc., 104 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, or online at www.swanngalleries.com.
Best regards & happy bidding, Douglas Stockdale
PhotoBook Journal 
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